Monday, 30 April 2018

Irish BSBI Spring Conference 2018: a huge success!

The Irish BSBI Conference 2018 was held last month and reports filtering through via social media suggest that it was a resounding success and yet another feather in organiser Maria Long's cap!

So I asked Jessica Hamilton, who gave a talk at the conference about the BSBI Kerry group (Jessica is the guiding force behind the group) to send us a short report and to include any comments she'd heard from fellow delegates.

Over to Jessica:

Mike Porter's talk on violasImage: J Hamilton

"The best one yet!" /
"Lovely mix, well done" / "Getting people together".

"One month ago now, (how fast is time flying this year?!), the Irish BSBI Conference was held at the National Botanic
Gardens, Glasnevin, in Dublin on the 24th March. Once people had gathered and received their
programme for the day, the day’s events kicked off with a warm welcome from the
ever enthusiastic Maria (BSBI Irish Officer).

"Throughout the day people used
the hashtag #IrishBSBIconference to tweet the ongoings of the day on social
media and give the conference a presence online.

Mike (in blue fleece) leads the viola workshopImage: J. Hamilton

"The talks kicked off with Mike Porter (author of the BSBI Handbook on Violas). He gave an elated and
comprehensive talk on violas.

"I think many people appreciate these spring
beauties, but Mike spoke about them with such infectious passion that after ten years of preparing the handbook he had the same love of this group of plants
that I’m sure he had on the first day he clasped eyes them.

"Mike’s talk on violas was definitely a
highlight for me, as was his workshop which he carried out later on that day
(more on that later) and others agreed with me:

Clare Heardman talks about Ellen HutchinsImage: J. Hamilton

“Viola talk- very funny and informative”.

"Next up was Clare Heardman, County Recorder for West Cork, who
gave a heartfelt and fantastic talk on Ellen Hutchins (Ireland’s first female
botanist). It was fascinating- yet moving - to learn about how, despite her struggles
and tragedies that she experienced, she was still able to pour herself into her
love of botany and accomplished so much as she did.

"As Clare pointed out, botany
definitely appeared to be a safe place for her from which to escape from all of life’s
woes and troubles. This is something I - and I’m sure others - can relate to.

Jessica talks about the BSBI Kerry groupImage: M Long

"Next I was up to give my talk on some of my
BSBI experience and a rundown of what the BSBI Kerry local group has been up to
so far. Around this time last year was when I attended my first ever BSBI
conference so to have been asked to speak this year was such an honour.

"After I wrapped up my talk I was followed
by Aoife Delaney whose talk 'Environmental drivers of biological
communities in dune slacks' was received with great interest.

"As Edwina Cole, County Recorder for East Cork, said “Aoife’s
presentation was particularly interesting- a much needed reminder of the
complexities of ecosystems and how one group alone cannot predict its wealth”
Very well said.

Colm talks about the BSBI Dublin groupImage: J Hamilton

"After a lunch break, there were a series of
flash talks by six enthusiastic speakers - Robert Northridge OBE who
spoke about Trichophorum - identifying the various species and their hybrids.
His enthusiasm and drive are particularly admirable - anyone who has
been out recording in the field with him will instantly pick up on this
seemingly endless energy and passion.

"Elaine Moore Mackey of the Irish Society of
Botanical Artists told us all about the work of the society and promoted their
upcoming exhibition Éireannach’ – which opens on the 5th May and looks to be
absolutely delightful and coincides with the launch of their book, also called
Èireannach, which will contain a collection of paintings of plants that are
native to Ireland. [Ed.: the book also has a 2-page feature about BSBI, written by Irish Officer Maria Long.]

"The five minute limit may seem quite short- and it
flies by, but in those five minutes what was great to see was that all speakers
in that short period, as well as giving informative talks, were able to portray
their enthusiasm for their particular area they were speaking of.

Mike's viola workshop in the herbariumImage: J. Hamilton

"While the County Recorders had a computer workshop, for
the rest of us, John Conaghan gave a fantastic talk on horsetails which also
featured herbarium specimens that were absolutely beautiful and look like hand
painted works of art, I definitely looked at horsetails in a different way
seeing them like that.

"Towards the end half of the day there was a
very successful and popular viola workshop with Mike Porter
which was one of my many highlights and it was great to get hands-on practice
looking at specimens both live and from the herbarium.

In the Palm House at NBG GlasnevinImage M. Long

"One of the herbarium specimens
which was particularly interesting was Viola rupestris (Teesdale violet), which
Ireland has no records of, but Mike wants us Irish folk to keep our eyes peeled
for this miniscule beauty.

"A group of us also enjoyed a fantastic talk
in the getting a tour of the palm house led by the director of the gardens Dr.
Matthew Jebb.

"We first started in the main gardens where he produced
a small matchbox, which he revealed that inside it contained a seed of all of
our c840 native flowering plant species. Amazing!

Into the top of the palm house we went and watch a breath
taking place it was, both from the views that encompassed us, and the humidity
that hit us.

"While we were in the palm house others got to have a
session and updates for Atlas 2020, giving updates no how it’s going so far and
throwing ideas around of what to focus on post atlas. "Post Atlas 2020 planning a good
idea".

"Also throughout day for people to view and was
a fantastic Information and identification station which people availed of to ID any mystery plants they had
and view some of the live specimens that were also on display such as my favourite, the
Rue-leaved saxifrage.

"The day was concluded with final words by
our host Maria. I asked Maria to give some feedback on how she felt the day
went:

Posters about Atlas 2020 and Wild Flower HourImage: J. Hamilton

“Each year we try hard to put on a varied
programme, and to keep costs low, but I'm still always nervous that it won't go
well, or that people won't come, or that they won't enjoy the day if they do.

"Thankfully, all the work and worry was worth it, and we've just had another
really successful conference.

"It was a busy, fast-paced day, but there was
plenty time too for attendees to chat and catch up over coffee and lunch
breaks.

"Great thanks are due to all contributors, with almost every one of them
being mentioned as a highlight by someone in the feedback!”

Maria's talk about lycopodsImage: J. Hamilton

"To finish up, if you didn’t get a chance to
attend the conference you’ll now hopefully have a nice idea of what went on.

"I
on behalf of all attendees want to extend my thanks and gratitude to Maria for
organising such a jam-packed fun day that had something for everyone and I look
forward with anticipation to next year’s conference.

"I think it’s safe to say everyone
who attended thoroughly enjoyed their day. Feedback is important for events
likes this and feedback received was all very positive, so let’s conclude with
two quotes from attendees - Kate and Conor:

Plant ID table, posters & leaflets about BSBIImage: J. Hamilton

“Thanks Maria for putting on such a great
conference last weekend - it was really enjoyable, and great catching up with
people” - Kate-Marie O’Connor.

“Thanks again for the conference. It was
excellent!” -Conor Owens

Hear Hear! JH".

Ed.: Many thanks to Jessica for this report and to Maria for organising another great day!

You may be interested to know that you can now download presentations from the conference - just head over to the Irish Conferences page.